The last time the Chicago Bears went to Philadelphia and beat the Eagles, quarterback Caleb Williams was a week away from his 10th birthday.

That run comes to an end as the Bears earned an emphatic 24-15 win over the defending champion Eagles on Black Friday at Lincoln Financial Field. Chicago entered the week as the second-best rushing offense in the league and looked the part all night with their first win in Philadelphia since Nov. 7, 2011.

Former Eagle D’Andre Swift followed tight end Cole Kmet past the line for the game’s first touchdown in the first quarter. The Philadelphia native enjoyed a standout performance with 18 carries for 125 yards and that score.

Chicago didn’t need to rely solely on Swift, though. Rookie running back Kyle Monangai had another standout game and finished the contest with 22 carries for 130 yards and a score as well.

Entering Week 13, the Eagles were averaging 115 rushing yards allowed per game. Chicago more than doubled that in a dominant display by Ben Johnson’s offense.

Despite those gaudy totals, the Eagles’ defense papered over their frustrating offense for much of the first half. Chicago out-gained Philadelphia 222 to 83 but only held a 10-7 lead at halftime.

Philadelphia forced two quick punts in the second half to neutralize a Jalen Hurts interception and a three-and-out. The Eagles then marched 92 yards for their first touchdown to make it 10-9 and the defense intercepted Williams on the ensuing drive.

But the game turned when Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright did something no other player has done this year: force a fumble on a tush push by Hurts, in the red zone no less.

Chicago capitalized on that turnover with Monangai’s touchdown to make it 17-9. A quick three-and-out by the Eagles gave the Bears’ offense the ball back with a chance to extend the lead and Williams found Kmet for a score to make it 24-9.  

Philadelphia got on the board with a second touchdown from Hurts to A.J. Brown, but couldn’t cut the deficit to one score. Chicago earned a marquee victory over the defending champions to stay atop the NFC North standings.

The Bears (9-3) stay on the road next week for another tough test against the Green Bay Packers (8-3-1). Philadelphia (8-4) has lost two in a row for the second time this season and is on the road next week against the Los Angeles Chargers.

USA TODAY Sports provided updates, stats and highlights from the NFL Black Friday game below. All times are Eastern.

Eagles vs. Bears takeaways

• Chicago’s run game is for real: There are few tougher tests for an interior offensive line than Philadelphia. Jalen Carter is a dominant force but the Bears’ interior consistently got a push and sealed off weak-side defenders to open up lanes for Swift and Monangai. Each back had their moments – Swift on the outside, Monangai between the tackles – in a defining game for the Bears’ offensive line.
• Eagles’ defense still strong: For how lopsided the first half was, Philadelphia was lucky to be down by just seven points. The Eagles’ defense continued to bend but not break and tee off on Williams. Chicago’s passing offense was in a tough spot for much of the game. Vic Fangio’s unit shouldn’t take much blame for this result.
• Tush push in trouble? In Week 8, Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux tried to force a fumble on Hurts during a tush push. Nahshon Wright did the same, but crucially did so before Hurts’ forward progress was stopped, giving the Bears the ball back on a huge swing play. This could be the first of many teams trying a similar strategy to neutralize the Eagles’ most popular play. It was a signature play for the Bears in an outstanding game for Dennis Allen’s unit.
• Eagles’ offensive woes continue: Philadelphia was shut out in the second half last week in a loss to the Cowboys in Dallas. This week, the Eagles could only muster two first downs in the first half. Things improved in the second half, but not enough to keep them in contention, thanks to critical turnovers. If offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo’s seat was getting warm entering the holiday week, it’s red-hot now.

Jalen Hurts stats vs. Bears

• 19-of-34 (55.8% completion rate)
• 230 passing yards
• 2 passing touchdowns
• 1 interception
• 84.2 passer rating
• 4 rushing attempts
• 31 rushing yards
• 0 rushing touchdowns

Caleb Williams stats vs. Eagles

• 17-of-36 (47.2% completion rate)
• 154 passing yards
• 1 passing touchdown
• 1 interception
• 56.9 passer rating
• 5 rushing attempts
• 13 rushing yards
• 0 rushing touchdowns

D’Andre Swift stats vs. Eagles

• 18 rushing attempts
• 125 rushing yards
• 1 rushing touchdown
• 1 reception (2 targets)
• 13 receiving yards
• 0 receiving touchdowns

Kyle Monangai stats vs. Eagles

• 22 rushing attempts
• 130 rushing yards
• 1 rushing touchdown
• 0 receptions (1 target)

A.J. Brown stats vs. Bears

• 10 receptions (12 targets)
• 132 receiving yards
• 2 receiving touchdowns

Eagles vs. Bears highlights

Eagles vs. Bears Black Friday game final score: Bears 24, Eagles 15

Eagles’ Jake Elliott misses late FG

With time running out in the fourth quarter, Philadelphia brought out kicker Jake Elliott for a field goal to make it a one-score game. His kick leaned wide left from 52 yards out and Chicago will run the clock out.

Bears turnover on downs late in fourth quarter

Chicago opted to go for it on 4th and 4 from the Eagles’ 30-yard line with less than 80 seconds to play. Caleb Williams’ pass fell incomplete, and the Eagles take over with 1:12 to go in the game, down nine points.

Eagles vs. Bears score update: Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown connect for another TD

Philadelphia answered the Bears’ fourth-quarter touchdown drive with one of their own. The Eagles marched 80 yards in 12 plays and took just over three minutes off the clock in the fourth quarter. Hurts capped things off by finding Brown once again for the duo’s second touchdown from 21 yards out.

Philadelphia opted to go for the two-point conversion now instead of later. Hurts’ pass to Saquon Barkley fell incomplete, which crucially keeps it a two-score game with 3:10 to go in the fourth quarter.

Bears 24, Eagles 15

Eagles vs. Bears score update: Caleb Williams finds Cole Kmet for TD

Facing second and 8 from the Eagles’ 28-yard line, Caleb Williams rolled to his left after faking a handoff to D’Andre Swift. Tight end Cole Kmet found room past the second level of the Eagles’ defense and outran safety Reed Blankenship to secure a deep shot from Williams for the score.

Cairo Santos’ extra point is good and Chicago extends its lead with 6:19 to go in the game.

Bears 24, Eagles 9

Bears defense forces another Eagles punt

After Chicago extended their lead in the fourth quarter, the Eagles’ offense couldn’t get anything going and went three-and-out. Another Philadelphia punt gives the Bears’ offense the ball back at the Chicago 37-yard line with 11:15 to go in the game.

Eagles vs. Bears score update: Kyle Monangai breaks through for TD

Chicago capitalized on Hurts’ fumble and relied on the running game once again to march the length of the field. This time, it was the rookie running back Monangai who charged through his blockers and into the end zone for the score. Cairo Santos’ extra point is good and Chicago takes its biggest lead of the game with 12:49 to go in the fourth quarter.

Bears 17, Eagles 9

End of 3rd quarter: Bears 10, Eagles 9

Chicago’s offense is driving into Philadelphia territory as the third quarter comes to a close. A key fourth-down conversion on a pass from Caleb Williams to Colston Loveland kept the drive alive as Chicago looks to score for the first time since midway through. the second quarter.

The Bears have the ball at the Eagles’ 21-yard line on 2nd and 1 to start the final frame.

Jalen Hurts fumbles tush push, Bears take over

Philadelphia lined up for their signature tush push on 3rd and 1 at the Chicago 12-yard line. Hurts pushed forward in the scrum which gave Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright a window to knock the ball loose and recover it.

Chicago’s offense takes over at its own 13-yard line.

Eagles intercept Caleb Williams’ screen pass

The Bears quarterback faked a handoff to running back Kyle Monangai before the rookie leaked out for a shallow screen pass. Eagles defensive lineman Jalyx Hunt recognized the play, waited for Williams to throw, batted the ball up and intercepted it. Philadelphia takes over on the Chicago 36-yard line.

Eagles vs. Bears score update: Hurts connects with A.J. Brown for TD

Philadelphia marched 92 yards in less than two minutes to finally get a touchdown on the board for the Eagles’ offense. Quarterback Jalen Hurts hit a deep shot on 1st and 10 to A.J. Brown down the left sideline and Brown made the catch for his second touchdown in as many games.

Jake Elliott missed the extra point and Chicago still holds a lead with 8:05 to go in the third quarter.

Bears 10, Eagles 9

Eagles force three-and-out and another Bears punt

Philadelphia’s defense stood tall after the Hurts interception. Pressure on Caleb Williams on 3rd and 3 forced an overthrow near Rome Odunze. Chicago settled for another punt, and Tory Taylor pinned the Philadelphia offense deep in its own territory. The Eagles’ offense takes over at their own 8-yard line with 9:59 to go in the third quarter.

Bears pick off Jalen Hurts, take over on offense

Bears safety Kevin Byard intercepted a Hurts pass in the area of Eagles wideout A.J. Brown. Both Brown and Darius Cooper were in the area when Hurts released the pass, and Byard made the play to give Chicago’s offense the ball back near midfield.

Bears punt after Caleb Williams can’t connect with Luther Burden

Williams fired a pass well past the first-down marker towards Burden but the rookie wide receiver lost his footing and couldn’t corral the ball. The ball fell incomplete on 3rd and 5 from the Bears’ 39 and Chicago punted for the second time today.

A 10-yard penalty backed them up before Tory Taylor’s punt went out of bounds at the Eagles’ 26-yard line. Philadelphia takes over with 12:20 to go in the third quarter.

Eagles punt again to open second half

Former Eagle C.J. Gardner-Johnson provided sticky coverage on Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert on 3rd and 9 with the Bears’ pass rush bearing down on Jalen Hurts. Hurts’ pass falls incomplete and the Eagles punt once again.

Chicago’s offense takes over at its own 24-yard line with 13:49 to go in the third quarter.

NFL Black Friday game score at halftime: Bears 10, Eagles 3

Chicago couldn’t capitalize on a late-half possession and take a 10-3 lead into halftime.

The Bears hold a seven-point lead but have dominated the first half. Philadelphia has just two first downs to Chicago’s 16 and the Bears out-gained the Eagles 222 to 83 over the first 30 minutes of game time. That advantage is mostly on the ground as Chicago’s racked up 142 rushing yards on 22 carries in the first half.

Philadelphia will receive the second-half kickoff.

A.J. Brown penalty dooms Eagles drive, Philadelphia punts again

Eagles’ wide receiver A.J. Brown got penalized for pushing off on Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson on a 12-yard gain on 3rd and 9. That penalty backed Philadelphia up to 3rd and 19 from their own 26-yard line. Jalen Hurts extended the play to the right and found Will Shipley for 11 yards and the Eagles punted once again.

Chicago takes over with 1:43 to go in the first half.

Eagles’ defense steps up to force Bears’ first punt

Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. pressured Caleb Williams on 3rd and 10 and Jalen Carter got the Bears’ quarterback to the ground for the first sack of the game. The Bears’ offense had their shortest drive of the game (five plays, three yards) and Chicago punted for the first time.

Philadelphia’s offense takes over at its own 35-yard line with 2:47 to go in the first half.

Bears’ defense forces three-and-out

Philadelphia managed just seven yards on its third drive of the game. Jalen Hurts’ pass on 3rd and 3 fell incomplete, intended for Dallas Goedert, and the Eagles punted for the second time today.

The Bears’ offense takes over at their own 20-yard line with 4:59 to go in the first half.

Eagles vs. Bears score update: Chicago settles for Santos FG

The Bears’ run game powered another long drive as Chicago marched 68 yards in 15 plays. Quarterback Caleb Williams threw three incomplete passes in a row in the red zone, though, and the Bears settle for a 30-yard Cairo Santos field goal.

Chicago holds a seven-point lead with 6:44 left to go in the first half.

Bears 10, Eagles 3

Eagles vs. Bears score update: Jake Elliott FG gets Philadelphia on the board

The Eagles’ offense sputtered getting close to the red zone and Jalen Hurts’ throw to DeVonta Smith on 3rd and 8 from the Bears’ 26-yard line fell incomplete. Jake Elliott knocked through a kick from 44 yards out to ensure Philadelphia got on the board early in the second quarter.

The Eagles’ offense drove 39 yards in seven plays for their second drive of the game.

Bears 7, Eagles 3

End of 1st quarter: Bears 7, Eagles 0

D’Andre Swift’s three-yard touchdown run is the lone points on the board through the first 15 minutes of action from Lincoln Financial Field.

The Eagles’ offense has the ball and will face 3rd and 3 from their own 42-yard line to start the second quarter.

Eagles vs. Bears score update: D’Andre Swift breaks through for TD

Former Eagles running back D’Andre Swift took an inside handoff from the three-yard line and followed tight end Cole Kmet through a hole for the game’s first score. Cairo Santos’ extra point is good and Chicago takes a 7-0 lead with 1:31 to go in the first quarter.

The Bears drove 78 yards in 11 plays to take 5:26 off the clock. Chicago’s run game powered that drive with 64 rushing yards on seven carries between Swift and fellow running back Kyle Monangai.

Bears 7, Eagles 0

Eagles forced to punt on opening possession after Hurts’ incomplete pass

Philadelphia got a quick first down on a Jalen Hurts pass to A.J. Brown. But the offense managed just five yards over their next three plays, culminating in Hurts throwing the ball away while scrambling away from pressure on 3rd and 5.

The Eagles punted and the Bears’ offense takes over again at their own 22-yard line.

Eagles’ challenge succeeds, Bears turnover on downs

Upon review, Bears running back Kyle Monangai was ruled short of the line to gain on 4th and 1. Philadelphia’s offense takes over at its own 25-yard line.

Chicago went 42 yards in 11 plays and took nearly five and a half minutes off the game clock.

Eagles challenge ball spot on fourth down run

Chicago’s knocking on the door of the red zone and faced a 4th and 1 from the Eagles’ 24-yard line. Rookie running back Kyle Monangai took a handoff up the middle and referee Carl Cheffers marked him past the line to gain.

It looked close on the broadcast and Eagles coach Nick Sirianni challenged the ball spot.

Bears wins toss, opts to receive

Caleb Williams and the rest of the Chicago offense will start today’s game with the ball first at their own 35-yard line.

Eagles vs. Bears Black Friday game start time

• Start time: 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT)
• Date: Friday, Nov. 28

The Eagles and Bears are set to kick off at 3 p.m. ET on Black Friday. Chicago will head to Lincoln Financial Field to take on Philadelphia.

Eagles vs. Bears TV channel

• Live stream: Amazon Prime Video 
• Chicago market: WFLD (FOX 32) | Philadelphia market: WTXF (FOX 29)

The NFL Black Friday game will exclusively stream on Amazon Prime Video for national viewers. For those in the Eagles TV market, WTXF (FOX 29) will air the game. In Chicago, viewers can tune to WFLD (FOX 32).

Eagles vs. Bears live stream

• Live stream: Amazon Prime Video 

The Eagles-Bears Black Friday matchup will be available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.  

Stream the Black Friday game on Amazon Prime Video

Eagles vs. Bears predictions, picks

Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Eagles-Bears Black Friday game will shake out:

• Jarrett Bell: Eagles 26, Bears 21
• Nick Brinkerhoff: Eagles 28, Bears 24
• Chris Bumbaca: Eagles 28, Bears 20
• Nate Davis: Eagles 27, Bears 23
• Tyler Dragon: Eagles 30, Bears 21
• Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Eagles 27, Bears 24

Eagles vs. Bears odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 9:20 a.m.

• Moneyline (ML): Philadelphia -325 (Bet $325 to win $100) | Chicago +260 (Bet $100 to win $260)
• Against the spread (ATS): Philadelphia -7 (-110) | Chicago +7 (-110)
• Over/Under (O/U): 44.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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What time is the NFL Black Friday game today?

• Start Time: 3 p.m. ET

Kickoff for the NFL’s Black Friday game is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET. It is the lone NFL game today.

Bears inactives vs. Eagles

Chicago is down three linebackers in its regular defensive rotation today when it faces Philadelphia.

• QB Case Keenum
• WR Jahdae Walker
• CB Tyrique Stevenson
• LB Noah Sewell
• LB Ruben Hyppolite II
• LB T.J. Edwards
• DE Dominique Robinson

Eagles inactives vs. Bears

Philadelphia will be without its All-Pro right tackle, Lane Johnson, today when it faces Chicago.

• RB A.J. Dillon
• WR Xavier Gipson
• QB Sam Howell (3rd QB)
• T Lane Johnson
• CB Mac McWilliams
• DT Ty Robinson
• OLB Joshua Uche

NFC East standings

The Eagles are in first place in the NFC East standings.

1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-3)
2. Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1)
3. Washington Commanders (3-8)
4. New York Giants (2-10)

NFC North standings

The Bears are in first place in the NFC North standings. Below is a look at the division standings after the Lions vs. Packers Thanksgiving game:

1. Chicago Bears (8-3)
2. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)
3. Detroit Lions (7-5)
4. Minnesota Vikings (4-7)

NFC playoff picture

1. Los Angeles Rams (9-2; NFC West leaders)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (8-3; NFC East leaders)
3. Chicago Bears (8-3; NFC North leaders)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5; NFC South leaders)
5. Seattle Seahawks (8-3; wild card No. 1)
6. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1; wild card No. 2)
7. San Francisco 49ers (8-4; wild card No. 3)

In the hunt: Detroit Lions (7-5); Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1); Carolina Panthers (6-6); Atlanta Falcons (4-7); Minnesota Vikings (4-7); Arizona Cardinals (3-8); Washington Commanders (3-8); New Orleans Saints (2-9);

Eliminated: New York Giants (2-10).

Eagles vs. Bears injury report

Which NFL team has the most Super Bowl wins? 

The Steelers are tied with the New England Patriots for the most Super Bowl wins with six. 

Pittsburgh and Dallas have the unique distinction of playing each other more than any other team combination in Super Bowl history with three matchups. 

Who are the announcers for Amazon Prime Video’s Black Friday game? 

Al Michaels (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) will be in the broadcast booth for Prime Video, with Kaylee Hartung (sideline) and Terry McAulay (rules analyst) providing additional coverage.  

The Prime Video pregame, halftime and postgame shows feature Charissa Thompson as host, as well as former NFL players Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tony Gonzalez, Richard Sherman and Andrew Whitworth as analysts.  

How old is Al Michaels?

Michaels, who is once again serving as the play-by-play voice of Amazon Prime’s ‘Thursday Night Football,’ is 81. He turned 81 on November 12 and has worked on network sports television since 1971.

NFL final scores for Thanksgiving games

Thursday, Nov. 28

• Green Bay Packers 31, Detroit Lions 24
• Dallas Cowboys 31, Chiefs 28
• Cincinnati Bengals 32, Ravens 14

The Philadelphia Eagles’ tush push is one of the more infamous plays in the NFL in recent years. Quarterback Jalen Hurts lines up under center in a tight formation and powers ahead with some help behind him to get short-yardage conversions.

For the first time this year, it backfired in a big way against the Chicago Bears.

Philadelphia was driving down the field after an interception by Caleb Williams, and was in the red zone once again. Hurts lined up for a tush push from the Bears’ 12-yard line on 3rd and 1.

With Hurts stuck behind his offensive line, Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright capitalized and knocked the ball out of Hurts’ hands and recovered the fumble.

It’s not the first time a defense has tried this technique to neutralize the tush push. New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux attempted the same thing back in Week 8 but was unsuccessful; the side judge in that contest ruled that Hurts’ forward progress stopped and the play was dead before Hurts lost the ball.

This is the first time Hurts has fumbled on the tush push this season. It marked his second turnover of the game today against Chicago, following his third-quarter interception.

COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colorado – The U.S. women’s ski team will be without one of its top medal contenders at the Milano Cortina Olympics.

‘It’s me, I’m what’s broken RIP acl, see you all next year ’ Macuga said in a post on Instagram.

Macuga’s injury put a damper on the World Cup, which offers the rare opportunity for U.S. skiers to compete on home snow.

‘We’re obviously very sad,’ said Keely Cashman, who is part of the speed team with Macuga. ‘This sport is incredibly brutal and there’s a lot of girls that gotten hurt early on, and it’s a terrible thing. That being said, Lauren is the most positive person I’ve ever met in my entire life. She’s already cracking jokes. She’s also, I would say, one of the hardest working people I know. So I have no doubt that she’ll be back.’

Mikaela Shiffrin agreed.

‘She’s such a hard worker and she’s so positive and she has such a great instinct for just how to keep pushing forward,’ Shiffrin said. ‘Everybody navigates injuries very individually. So mostly it’s just to say we support you through it all and everything you’ve been doing is right. You’ve been doing it all right. So just be patient with yourself and keep going.’

Macuga, 23, emerged as the U.S. team’s brightest young star last season. She got her first World Cup win, in the super-G at St. Anton, and was second in a downhill at Kvitfjell, Norway. She also medaled in her very first world championships, winning bronze in the super-G.

She finished last season as the top American in both downhill (fourth) and super-G (sixth), and was 17th in the overall World Cup rankings. She compiled enough points to earn starts in other disciplines, and Saturday was to be her second career GS start.

‘That moment I was like, `Oh my gosh, I did that.’ It’s this one step in this immense dream and I just achieved that,’ Macuga said last month of winning in St. Anton. ‘And then it’s amazing now to be like, no, that wasn’t the step. I want to achieve so much more.

‘There’s so many branches to this dream and it just keeps growing as I keep going along, and it just motivates me more.’

Macuga also was beginning to command the spotlight off the slopes, and figured to be a big part of NBC’s coverage of the Winter Games. She is bubbly and goofy, easily identifiable with her collection of bucket hats and American flag shirts that she wears after races.

Her appeal is broadened by her family, with her two sisters also vying to make the Olympic team. Older sister Sam is a ski jumper and younger sister Alli is a moguls skier, and they have dubbed their family ‘Chaos Cougs’ for the schedules that have them crisscrossing the globe for much of the year and require their mother to track them on a spreadsheet.

‘For the longest time, it’s been the dream for all of us to be there,’ Lauren Macuga said. ‘We all build off of each other. We all push each other and it’s in the best way because we’ve dreamt about it. It’s been our dream; not my dream for the three of us to have been there, it’s our dream. So you’re like, `Oh, I got to do my part to try and make this happen.”

Disappointing as Macuga’s injury is, the Americans can absorb it better than in years past. This will be the strongest team the U.S. women have had at the Olympics in several years, on both the speed and tech sides, with multiple medal contenders in each race.

There is Shiffrin, of course, who has more World Cup wins (103) than any other skier, male or female and is a two-time Olympic champion. Breezy Johnson is the reigning world champion in downhill while Paula Moltzan has been a consistent podium threat in giant slalom and slalom.

There’s also Lindsey Vonn, who came out of retirement last year after having a partial knee replacement. Vonn finished the season by winning the silver medal in the super-G at the World Cup finals in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Still, Macuga’s injury leaves a hole on the team.

‘She is such an unbelievably hard worker and such a light on our team, so we’ll certainly miss her,’ said Tricia Mangan, another member of the speed team. ‘But we’re already excited for her to come back.’

AI-assisted summary
• Joe Burrow returned from a severe turf toe injury, leading the Bengals to a 32-14 victory over the Ravens.
• Despite the win, the Bengals’ record is now 4-8, but they remain hopeful for a late-season playoff push.
• The Bengals’ defense, previously a weakness, forced five turnovers and played a crucial role in the upset.

But he didn’t literally eat.

Following the Cincinnati Bengals’ 32-14 upset of the Baltimore Ravens in Burrow’s highly anticipated return, the Pro Bowl quarterback declined to eat the turkey offered during NBC’s postgame interview.

“I didn’t touch it,” he told reporters afterward. “I don’t know who made it, where they made it, I’m good.”

But whether it was carving up the Ravens, not carving up NBC’s mystery meat or deciding to rejoin a team that was 3-8 going into the Baltimore game, it’s evident Burrow knows what he’s doing.

Good thing he doesn’t listen to a certain USA TODAY Sports NFL columnist who thought the prudent thing to do was pack it in for 2025 and regroup for 2026.

From the outside looking in, there seemed to be little reason for Burrow, the Bengals’ best player in a generation, to rush back − and maybe that will still prove to be the case. He’s missed 23 of a possible 95 regular-season starts to date during his six-year career. He’s toiling for a team that’s now 4-8 – the same record it had through 12 games a year ago before ultimately falling short of postseason.

So does one glorious upset in front of a national audience mean this quest isn’t actually quixotic? Not necessarily. But oftentimes, one gains a much better perspective by being up close and personal.

Burrow’s return brings smiles back to Bengals’ locker room

There was Cincinnati left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., looking relieved and exhausted in M&T Bank Stadium’s cramped but joyous visitors’ locker room following the win.

“It’s special, man,” Brown told USA TODAY Sports. “I wouldn’t want it to be under any other circumstances.”

There was head coach Zac Taylor, standing alone in a small room away from players, staff and reporters, appearing spent but satisfied in his first quiet moment after a dominant win, a raucous celebration and his press conference. He made eye contact and offered what might have been his first genuine post-game smile in months.

“I’m really happy. That was kind of the first all-around game we’ve played all season, it felt like,” he’d said just moments earlier.

“Couldn’t be prouder of those guys.”

And there was Burrow, hoarse and barely audible behind a microphone – perhaps even a touch emotional – speaking after a win for the first time since the season opener.

“Certainly, hasn’t been easy on me through six years from a lot of different angles,” he said. “So, I worked really hard to put myself in position to be back out there, and a lot of people around me have done the same. Through a lot of discussion, time in the training room, just a lot that’s gone into this, and I’m proud to be back.

“Putting in work for a long time, and going out and it paying off – there’s just no feeling like going out in front of the world with a group of guys that work really hard to go try and win games.

“Obviously, we have a lot of games left, but we’re going to enjoy this one.”

And why not?

This was the year the Bengals had finally avoided one of their notoriously slow starts, winning their first two games, only to lose Burrow midway through that second victory. Cincinnati went 1-8 without him.

Yet a season that appeared lost may, in fact, be salvageable.

With Pro Bowl talent in place, can Bengals make a playoff run?

If injured wideout Tee Higgins (concussion) and/or defensive end Hendrickson (hip/pelvis) return, the squad will get another instant infusion of Pro Bowl-caliber upgrading. Neither played Thursday, and Hendrickson has played sparingly over the past six weeks.

While the Bengals racked up 32 points Thursday, they also left a lot of meat on that turkey bone – going 1-for-6 in the red zone and settling for six Evan McPherson field goals. They recovered the Ravens’ first turnover, a strip sack of Lamar Jackson, on Baltimore’s 2-yard line, but squandered the gift − gaining nary a yard and accruing no points while going four-and-out. A less-rusty Burrow could have well meant a fifty-burger against a Baltimore D that’s been one of the league’s best over the past six weeks.

“At the end of the day, we have to make plays and put the ball in the end zone,” said Burrow. “We can’t kick six field goals, but that’s the kind of game that it was.

“(I)t was a ‘take your points’ kind of game. Obviously, the one that really hurt us was when we got the turnover down there and came out with no points. Typically, that’s going to be tough to win the game, but we were able to pull it out.”

A Cincinnati defense that’s still the league’s worst in terms of points (31.2) and yards (410.0) allowed per game – by orders of magnitude – was excellent during Burrow’s return, forcing five Baltimore turnovers and limiting the Ravens to little more than 21 minutes with the ball. But look a bit closer, and it’s worth noting the unit – despite consistently being put in bad spots by the Burrow-less offense – has played better lately, holding all three of its opponents since the Week 10 bye to fewer than 400 yards and nearly engineering an upset of the New England Patriots, owners of the league’s best record (10-2), last Sunday.

“The way our defense has played the last several weeks I think has been extremely positive,” said Burrow. “Obviously, they were great, great, great today.”

Of its 10 third downs, Baltimore only converted three.

“(T)he real, real, real, real MVP of the day was the defense. I mean they were unbelievable. They really were,” said Bengals running back Chase Brown, who’d offered candid frustration with the D in recent weeks.

“We are going to win a lot of games here.”

Window to AFC North title remains open

And that could very well be true given the state of the AFC North, a reason Burrow cited for his accelerated return when he rejoined practice earlier this month. The Bengals may be 4-8 – though 3-0 in games started by Burrow – but their 3-1 record in divisional games is the best among AFC North teams. And though Cincinnati is presently two wins back of the Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, those teams – and neither exactly appears poised to go on a heater amid their own circumstances – still have to play each other twice, which could bring both of them within striking range if the Bengals can catch fire.

Cincinnati won its final five games last season but came up one victory shy of playoff qualification. Now, it at least seems possible to replicate a similar sprint with their final five games this year against the struggling Buffalo Bills and Ravens (in Cincinnati next time), followed by the Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns, a trio of teams with a combined record of 10-23.

“Unfortunately, we’ve been here before, same record,” said Taylor.

“So, we know what it looks like, and we know what it feels like. We know what the urgency level is. It doesn’t really change how we operate in any way, shape or form because we just keep going on a week-to-week basis and doing our best to find a win. Certainly, we know what this looks like, and I expect our guys to handle it the right way.

“We knew coming in, everything was still in front of us. … We can’t worry about what place we are in or the chances of making the playoffs. Take every game serious and like it is your last. We must treat every game in November, December and January as playoff football.”

Added Burrow’s favorite target, wideout Ja’Marr Chase: “We’ve been in this position before, trying to fight ourselves out of adversity to get ourselves in the playoffs, to get ourselves a better picture in the future, so at the end of the day, we need Joe, and Joe needs us. We have to make it work, someway, somehow, and just get ourselves set for the future.”

And if Burrow, who hit on just of 24 of those 46 throws in his return, gets back to Burrow-level efficiency in the near future, as one would expect? And if his mobility improves, as one would expect? If his rhythm returns with more practice, as one would expect?

“Obviously, I had to knock the rust off in the first half, so I expected myself to play better, but it was good to be out there,” said Burrow, admitting he was “antsy” at times and missing throws he’d typically nail while finding his sea legs.

“The second half, I felt more comfortable. I started putting it where I wanted to.”

Now he just needs to take the Bengals where they want to go – postseason, which they’ve been absent from since losing the 2022 AFC title game. Succeed or fail, it should be quite a ride.

“It’s a lot of fun to watch Joe Burrow play football,” said Taylor. “This is a team that’s been believing all along. It’s never too late to get going. For us to find a win – we’ve got to piggy-back on this. The team’s got a lot of confidence. We’re going to continue to work and continue to fight.”

Taylor went on to underscore his point.

“When you’ve got the guy out there that you wouldn’t trade for anybody, there’s just this different confidence,” said the seventh-year coach. “I don’t say that in any way to slight any other guy because we’ve had a ton of confidence with the quarterbacks that have been playing for us. Joe Burrow – he’s a spectacular player. The team responds the right way to it.” 

Memo to you dummies out there: The only idea dumber than eating unvetted turkey? Shutting down Joe Burrow unless or until it’s absolutely necessary.

Georgia Tech football entered ‘Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate’ looking to keep its College Football Playoff picture alive.

The 19th-ranked Yellow Jackets (No. 23 in CFP rankings), however, will come out of their Week 14 rivalry game with yet another loss, as Haynes King and Co. fell 16-9 to No. 4 Georgia (No. 4 in CFP rankings) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Friday, Nov. 28.

The loss drops Brett Key’s squad to a three-loss team, guaranteeing they will miss the CFP after they entered Rivalry Week ranked 23rd in the playoff rankings.

Georgia Tech hung in there with Georgia for much of the first half, as both teams traded field goals for their first scoring opportunities. The Bulldogs created some separation at the 4:44 mark of the second quarter when Gunner Stockton connected with Zachariah Branch for a 7-yard touchdown pass on third-and-5.

King threw an interception early in the third quarter, setting Georgia Tech further back on offense. The Yellow Jackets’ defense kept the offense in the game with a few key stops, but King and Co. weren’t able to piece together a touchdown drive in the second half, with arguably their best opportunity to score a touchdown coming on a last-second Hail Mary attempt.

Since Friday’s contest was a non-conference game for both teams, Georgia Tech will now screen watch the rest of the ACC to see if it can catch some breaks to make the ACC championship game next week in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Yellow Jackets need a Virginia loss to Virginia Tech and a SMU loss to Cal to make the conference championship game.

That all said, where will the Yellow Jackets fall in the latest top 25 rankings following the defeat? Here’s where they may land:

Georgia Tech football ranking: Where will Yellow Jackets fall in top 25?

Georgia Tech dropping to three losses loss didn’t come at a great time, as the final College Football Playoff top 25 ranking will be revealed in just over a week on Sunday, Dec. 7 at noon ET.

While the Georgia loss isn’t ‘bad’ for Georgia Tech — the Bulldogs are a top-four team in the latest CFP top 25 — the loss came too late in the season, and will negatively impact Georgia Tech’s CFP picture and top-25 ranking.

Final projection: No. 23

Georgia and Georgia Tech has long been one of college football’s best rivalries, with a moniker, ‘Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate,’ that appropriately sums up the feeling between the in-state foes.

The latest edition of a rivalry dating all the way back to 1893 came with more stakes than usual — but it ended with what has become a familiar result.

Behind 108 rushing yards from Nate Frazier and some timely defensive stops, the No. 4 Bulldogs held off the No. 19 Yellow Jackets for a 16-9 victory on Friday, Nov. 28 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in Week 14.

With the win, Georgia finishes the regular season with an 11-1 record as it waits to see whether it will make the SEC championship game. Regardless, coach Kirby Smart’s team is a lock for the playoff and may earn a first-round bye. Georgia Tech, meanwhile, finishes with a 9-3 record and would need several upsets — including a California defeat of No. 25 SMU and Virginia Tech upset of No. 17 Virginia — to make it into the ACC championship game.

The victory was the Bulldogs’ eighth in a row in the series. The past three of those wins have been decided by one score.

Both teams struggled to move the ball, with Georgia holding a 260-250 advantage in total yards. The Bulldogs, however, were less efficient, averaging just 3.9 yards per play. Georgia Tech averaged 5.0 yards per play. In a winning effort, Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton was held to a season-low 70 passing yards.

USA TODAY is brought you live updates from Atlanta. Here are the highlights.

Georgia vs Georgia Tech football score

This section will be updated throughout the game.

Georgia-Georgia Tech highlights

FINAL: Georgia 16, Georgia Tech 9

Georgia Tech made the most of the time it had left, getting all the way to the Georgia 44-yard line with one second left, but a Haynes King Hail Mary is batted down in the end zone as the Bulldogs hold on for a 16-9 victory.

Georgia Tech has one final chance

It all comes down to a play or two for Georgia Tech, which has the ball at its own 20-yard line with 14 seconds left and no timeouts, staring at a 16-9 deficit.

Georgia Tech FG trims deficit to seven

It’s back to a one-score game in Atlanta after Georgia Tech gets a 41-yard Aidan Birr field goal to punctuate a seven-play, 64-yard drive. Georgia’s lead is down to seven, 16-9, with 3:30 remaining.

The Yellow Jackets have two timeouts remaining, along with the two-minute timeout.

Georgia punts

Time’s running out for Georgia Tech, but it’s still got a chance. The Yellow Jackets force a Georgia punt after sacking Gunner Stockton for a 9-yard loss on third-and-7 and will take over at their own 11-yard line after a 45-yard boot with 6:06 left.

Georgia Tech forced to punt

After effortlessly moving the ball into Georgia territory, Georgia Tech’s drive stalls, with an unnecessary roughness penalty on offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge forcing a third-and-17 from the Bulldogs’ 46-yard line. A Haynes King pass sails high and falls incomplete, forcing the Yellow Jackets to punt, with the ball ending up in the end zone.

Georgia will take over at its own 20 with 10:25 left and the chance to drain some valuable clock.

Georgia FG pushes lead back to 10

The Bulldogs answer Georgia Tech’s field goal with one of their own, going 42 yards in 11 plays and draining 5:28 off the clock to set up a 50-yard field goal from Peyton Woodring.

Georgia leads 16-6 with 14:05 remaining in regulation.

End of third quarter: Georgia 13, Georgia Tech 6

Georgia will carry a 13-6 lead into the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs will have a third-and-11 from the Georgia Tech 39-yard line when the fourth quarter begins.

Georgia Tech FG cuts into Georgia lead

Georgia Tech is able to turn its excellent starting field position into points, going 27 yards in six plays to set up a 44-yard field goal from Aidan Birr to cut Georgia’s lead to 13-6 with 4:36 remaining in the third quarter.

Georgia Tech takes over near midfield

After King’s interception, the Georgia Tech defense continues what has been an unusually strong day for the normally porous unit, forcing a Georgia punt that’s fielded for a fair catch at the Yellow Jackets’ 47-yard line with 7:35 left in the third quarter.

Prime opportunity for Georgia Tech to make this a one-score game.

Haynes King INT ends Georgia Tech drive

After forcing a three-and-out on Georgia’s first drive of the second half, Georgia Tech moves the ball to the Bulldogs’ 44-yard line, but a deep shot on first down from Haynes King is picked off by Georgia defensive back Ellis Robinson IV, who does an excellent job leaping up to bring down the ball.

Georgia will take over at its own 4-yard line with 10:16 left in the third quarter.

Haynes King stats

The Georgia Tech quarterback had only 65 total yards in the first half, completing seven of his 11 passes for 55 yards and adding another 10 yards on the ground on three carries.

Halftime: Georgia 13, Georgia Tech 3

Peyton Woodring’s 30-yard field goal stretches Georgia’s lead over Georgia Tech to 13-3 at halftime. The Bulldogs will receive the opening kickoff of the second half.

Georgia FG pushes lead to two scores

Georgia fits in one more scoring drive in a productive second quarter, going 55 yards in nine plays for the second time in as many drives. This possession ends with a 30-yard Peyton Woodring field goal to extend the Bulldogs’ lead to 13-3 heading into halftime.

Gunner Stockton TD pass puts Georgia in front

After some early stumbles, Georgia has its first lead of the game. The Bulldogs take advantage of the excellent starting field position, going 55 yards in nine plays. The drive is capped off by a 7-yard touchdown pass from Gunner Stockton to Zachariah Branch on a third-and-5, with Branch making a nice move to get away from a Georgia Tech defensive back and into the end zone.

Georgia leads Georgia Tech 10-3 with 4:35 left in the first half.

Georgia gets the ball near midfield

Georgia Tech punts after a three-and-out, with Marshall Nichols managing just a 22-yard boot that goes out of bounds at the Georgia 45-yard line. Bulldogs have an excellent opportunity to take the lead, with 8:25 remaining in the first half.

Georgia FG ties it up

The Bulldogs finish off a 13-play, 71-yard drive with a 22-yard Peyton Woodring field goal to tie it up with Georgia Tech, 3-3, with 9:42 left in the first half.

End of first quarter: Georgia Tech 3, Georgia 0

Trailing by three, Georgia will open the second quarter with a third-and-1 from its own 47-yard line.

Georgia Tech FG opens scoring

Georgia Tech is able to turn the Gunner Stockton interception into points, getting down to the Georgia 13-yard line and getting a 30-yard field goal from Aidan Birr to take a 3-0 lead with 1:22 remaining in the first quarter.

Gunner Stockton INT ends Georgia drive

Facing a third-and-13 from his team’s own 34-yard line, Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton throws an interception across the middle to Georgia Tech linebacker Tah’j Butler, who brings it back to the Bulldogs’ 37.

It’s just the fifth interception of the season for Stockton, though four of those have come in Georgia’s past five games.

Georgia Tech punts

An eventful first drive for Georgia Tech ends with a punt. After a misplayed kickoff, the Yellow Jackets start their opening drive on their own 3-yard line. Quarterback Haynes King risks getting called for intentional grounding when he throws away the ball while getting brought down in the end zone, but avoids a flag.

Georgia Tech gets up to its own 44-yard line, but ends up punting, with Georgia taking over at its own 12.

Pregame

Calvin Johnson at Georgia vs Georgia Tech

Calvin Johnson, the Pro Football Hall of Famer and one of the greatest players in Georgia Tech football history, is at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to watch his former team take on its hated rival.

Georgia Tech football uniform vs Georgia

Georgia Tech will wear white jerseys, gold pants and white helmets in its rivalry game against Georgia.

Georgia football uniform vs Georgia Tech

Despite in what’s technically a road game, Georgia will be wearing its traditional home uniform against Georgia Tech: red jerseys, gray pants and red helmets.

What TV channel is Georgia Tech vs Georgia on today?

• TV: ABC
• Streaming: Fubo (free trial)

Georgia Tech vs. Georgia will air nationally on ABC, with Joe Tessitore and Jesse Palmer calling the game from the booth and Katie George reporting from the sidelines. One streaming option for the game includes Fubo, which carries ABC and offers a free trial.

Georgia Tech vs Georgia time today

• Date: Friday, Nov. 28
• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)

Georgia Tech and Georgia are scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff from Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Yellow Jackets will be the host team for this year’s matchup, which previously was slated to be held at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Georgia Tech vs Georgia predictions, picks, odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, Nov. 25

• Spread: Georgia (-13.5)
• Over/under: 59.5 points
• Moneyline: Georgia (-600) | Georgia Tech (+425)

Prediction: Georgia 34, Georgia Tech 20

Georgia Tech plays Georgia close in the first half, but as has been the case all season, the Bulldogs dominate in the second half to deny the Yellow Jackets a chance to a playoff berth. 

Week 13 began with three Thanksgiving games and a Black Friday contest. With zero teams on bye, there’s less need for streamers than at any point since bye weeks started in Week 5.

However, some of you have already woken up to sizable deficits in your matchups. Patrick Mahomes (29.4), Jordan Love (25.7), Rashee Rice (25.4), Jameson Williams (23.4) and CeeDee Lamb (20.7) were among the players who had big days and are started in most leagues. Facing one of them might be manageable, but if you were up against two or three, you now need some big performances of your own.

Week 13 sleepers can provide the spark you need. Your current flex or WR3 may feel safe, but sometimes safety lacks upside. This is the week to take a swing and add a player with the kind of ceiling that can flip a matchup.

The 11 sleepers and streamers below are the Thanksgiving leftovers that you actually want.

*Streamers are players who are rostered in 50% or fewer of Yahoo! leagues.

Fantasy Football Week 13 Streamers

Quarterbacks

C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

It has been a rough season for Stroud overall, but he was coming off a strong performance in Week 11, throwing for 318 yards and two touchdowns against the 49ers.

The passing game with Davis Mills stepped up in his absence, thanks to Christian Kirk and Jayden Higgins emerging as much better complementary pieces to Nico Collins. That support should help Stroud carry the momentum he built in Week 8 forward, even against a solid Colts defense.

Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans

There is no denying Cam Ward has been bad for most of the season, so this is a play you should make only if you are desperate.

The logic behind using him is straightforward. Yes, you could take the safer route with Tua Tagovailoa or even Marcus Mariota. However, Ward has a similar floor to both, but offers a higher ceiling.

He is also coming off his best game of the season, and doing it against a good Seahawks team helps raise the confidence level a bit. Now he faces the Jaguars, who have allowed the fourth-most points to opposing quarterbacks, including recent 27- and 28-point outings from Geno Smith and Davis Mills.

Running Backs

Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons

Allgeier is back in his usual spot atop the streamers list. He did not score last week because the Falcons did not get near the goal line, which is where he typically does his damage. He still saw 12 carries and ran for 44 yards.

This projects as another game where the Falcons should be leading or at least competitive. We know how the story goes when they are in that type of game script. Allgeier is on the field more.

Devin Singletary, New York Giants

Singletary’s EPA, expected points per attempt, leaves a lot to be desired, but the usage is fantastic, so you can overlook that if you need him as a streaming option. Over the last two weeks he has seen 16 and 14 carries.

Most important, over the last three weeks he has handled nearly all of the carries inside the 10-yard line for the Giants. Much like Allgeier, even if he is not piling up yardage, one touchdown can make up for it in the box score.

Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars

Last week, Tuten took a step back following his breakout Week 11 performance. It seems likely that the ankle injury he suffered late in that game was still bothering him.

Now, another week removed from the injury and facing the Titans, who allow the fourth-most points to running backs, Tuten should have a strong chance to stay involved in the offense much like he did in Week 11.

Wide Receivers

Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans

As mentioned above, Higgins is part of the reason why Stroud is a streaming option, so it should be no surprise to see him recommended as an option too.

Over the last three weeks, he has totaled 23 targets and caught two touchdowns. Yes, that was all with Davis Mills as the starter, but the way Houston has been using him during this stretch should give you confidence that the trend can continue.

Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots

Boutte disappointed last week in what was expected to be a great matchup. That is the nature of a player who lives and dies by the deep ball.

What’s encouraging, though, is that even coming off a hamstring injury, he played 57 of 71 snaps for the Patriots. This week, facing the Giants presents another strong opportunity for him to exploit.

Greg Dortch, Arizona Cardinals

This recommendation comes with an asterisk. If Marvin Harrison Jr. is active, do not play Dortch.

However, if Harrison does not play, Dortch becomes a viable WR3/Flex option. Over the last two weeks, he has caught 12 of 15 targets for 119 yards and two touchdowns. With Jacoby Brissett throwing frequently, Dortch can thrive even as the third option in the passing game.

Tight Ends

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars

Returning from a six-week absence, Strange jumped right back into action, catching all five targets for 93 yards.

This week poses a tough matchup, as the Titans have allowed the seventh-fewest points to tight ends. Still, he seems to play a very integral role in the passing offense, making Strange a safe streaming option.

Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints

Yes we are really back to Hill being a boom or bust tight end option. The injury to Alvin Kamara has opened the door for him to get much more involved in the run game as evidenced by receiving 10 carries last week.

The Saints run game has not been good all season, even with Kamara, but if Hill is going to receive that many touches and valuable redzone carries as a tight end, he could pay off big time.

Defense

San Francisco 49ers

While the 49ers have not been the best fantasy defense this season, this week they get a favorable matchup against Shedeur Sanders and the Browns.

Despite Sanders improving the Browns’ offense, which wasn’t hard, he still struggled overall. Outside of a 66-yard touchdown pass rolling out to his right, he only completed 10 of his other 19 attempts for 143 yards and threw an interception.

Expect the 49ers to put pressure on Sanders, forcing turnovers and limiting points allowed. The Defense-Stream-O-Matic on Fantasy Six Pack agrees that they are a good play as well.

Florida has interviewed close to a dozen candidates since firing Billy Napier on Oct. 19. The 50-year-old Kiffin was the prime target until Nov. 28.

Sources familiar with the UF coaching search process have confirmed to The Gainesville Sun that Tulane’s Jon Sumrall and Washington’s Jedd Fisch are on the short list of candidates to become UF’s next coach.

Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter said the 50-year-old Kiffin will announce his coaching future intentions the day after its Egg Bowl matchup with rival Mississippi State on Nov. 28. Kiffin had three choices — stay at Ole Miss, where he’s posted three straight 10-win seasons, leave for LSU or come to Florida and become the heir apparent to the coach he idolized, Steve Spurrier.

Kiffin declined answering questions about his future at his weekly news conference on Nov. 24.

‘I’m sure you’ve got a lot of other questions but I’m just answering questions focused on the team and this season and our players,’ Kiffin told the Clarion-Ledger.

Kiffin re-iterated that stance in his interview on the SEC Network before the Egg Bowl.

If Lane Kiffin says no to Florida football, expect Jedd Fisch, Jon Sumrall to be in mix

Should Kiffin not choose Florida, the Gators are prepared to quickly pivot. Florida would prefer to have a coach in place before National Signing Day for the early signing period, which is Dec. 3.

Sumrall denied an On3 report he was scheduled to interview with UF on Nov. 20, but sources have confirmed there is mutual interest on both sides. A former Kentucky linebacker, Sumrall knows the SEC, having also served as a linebackers coach at Ole Miss (2018) and Kentucky (2019-21).

Th 43-year-old Sumrall has posted a combined 41-11 record in four seasons as a head coach at Troy and Tulane, leading Troy to back-to-back Sun Belt Conference titles in 2022 and 2023. At Tulane, Sumrall has gone 18-7 in two seasons and has the Green Wave in position to land a College Football Playoff Berth.

Auburn and Ole Miss (should Kiffin leave) are also interested in Sumrall, a defensive-minded coach whose Green Wave ranked second in the American Conference in total defense last season, allowing 323.5 yards per game.

Fisch, 49, is a 1998 Florida graduate who worked as a graduate assistant under Spurrier from 1999-2000 before going on to a successful 25-year career that included offensive coaching stints in college and in the NFL as offensive coordinator at Miami (2011-12), the Jacksonville Jaguars (2013-14) and UCLA (2017).

After leading Arizona to a 10-win season in 2023, Fisch has spent the past two seasons at Washington, where he’s posted a 14-10 record. Fisch’s offense at Washington currently ranks fifth in the Big Ten Conference at 426.5 yards per game.

According to sources close to the search process and a report from On3’s Chris Low, Florida also interviewed Clark Lea last week. But Lea signed a six-year contract to remain at Vanderbilt on Nov. 28.

Florida, on the way to its fourth losing season in five years and is in search of a coach to revitalize a program that hasn’t won an SEC or national title since 2008 under former coach Urban Meyer.

Former Florida linebacker great and current UF staff member Brandon Spikes sent cryptic social media posts during the week claiming that UF already has a coach in place and knows who it is.

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com